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RYLA Builds Youth Leadership
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Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership training experience sponsored and organized by Rotary clubs and districts for youth ages 14-30 years-old. RYLA programs include a one-day seminar, a weekend retreat, and even a week-long camp. Youth learn leadership skills, critical thinking strategies and inclusive Rotarian values of peace.
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One example of how RYLA is making a difference in the lives of young people is Gretchen Walker, a RYLA alumni and current President of the Rotary Club of Portland (Oregon). “I fell in love with Rotary the very first year I attended a RYLA event,” says Gretchen. “My employer was a Rotarian and he recruited me to participate back in 1999. I knew his oldest son had previously participated in RYLA and really enjoyed and benefited from the experience.”
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Gretchen credits her experience in RYLA for helping her become one of Rotary's most exemplary young leaders.“The program was such a benefit that I wanted to give back,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to learn life skills that you will use throughout your entire life. And you make life-long friends who share a passion for community involvement, business and service above self.” Read More
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Rotaracts Empower Women in Sri Lanka
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According to Rotary International, Rotaract clubs, “bring together people ages 18-30 to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.” Rotaract clubs are sponsored by local Rotary clubs but enjoy general autonomy in organizing and running their clubs, managing funds, along with planning and carrying out their own activities and service projects.
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In just five short years, these enterprising Sri Lankan Rotaracts have captured the attention of the entire Rotary world through innovative service projects. The club has won over 13 awards just since 2017 for their outstanding humanitarian initiatives. Their peace projects have lifted underserved members of their community and help to foster their potential. Rotary International honored them at the RI Convention in Toronto with The 2018 Rotaract Outstanding Project Award for one such visionary project, The Dream Store, a full entrepreneurial program and platform for women living with HIV and AIDS in Sri Lanka.
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Women living with HIV and AIDS are frequently marginalized, neglected, and discriminated against in Sri Lanka because the HIV virus is stereotypically linked with promiscuity. Poor sexual education and a large migrant workforce exacerbate this stereotype. Employers refuse to hire these women which limits them to few options aside from begging or selling homespun trinkets on the streets to support themselves and their families.
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Rotarian peacebuilders understand peace actions often originate in championing the dignity and value of marginalized groups, as declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While many native Sri Lankans or tourists viewed these women as untouchable beggars or simple street vendors, Rotaracts envisioned possibilities of empowerment and life-changing value in their struggles. They noted that many of these outcast women offered hand made jewelry and other crafts as they gathered on streets and in public spaces to earn a living. These women weren’t viewed as street vendors or beggars through the eyes of Rotaracts; they were artisans and designers, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders, who could become strong businesswomen if given the training and opportunity to succeed.
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The Dream Store project developed training classes to enhance the trade skills of these female entrepreneurs and teach them new ones. Participants are screened to receive 16 basic training courses in business operations and personal finance. Rotaracts established a market for hand-made Sri Lankan artisan crafts online and with the largest gift shop in the country. All proceeds are given directly to the artists.
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This Dream Store project was conceived and implemented by young Rotaractors, and personifies the aspirations of older Rotarians who support them. Read More
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Rotary Peace Fellows are Champions of Peace
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Rotary Peace Fellows are given the training and experience to be effective catalysts for peace. There are now over 1,200 Rotary Peace Fellows working in peace organizations, at the United Nations and in humanitarian NGO's around the world. There are currently six Rotary Peace Centers globally, offering training, practice, and opportunities for young peace-driven professionals.
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From The Rotarian February 2019
Rotary Peace Fellow Kiran Singh Sirah is one such Peace Fellow. He is a graduate of the Duke/UNC Peace Center in North Carolina, and is now president of the nonprofit International Storytelling Center located in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He provides an example of how Rotary Peace Fellows lead organizations around the world, promoting peace in both traditional and unconventional ways. Kiran's unique background led him to seek a Rotary Peace Fellowship.
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His mother is Kenyan and his father was born in India. His family was forced at gunpoint to leave their home in Uganda and they eventually landed in Eastbourne, England.
He bears scars from attacks growing up as a child in the only Sikh family in Eastbourne. Yet, his experiences with conflict rooted in ignorance only proved to drive his passion for non-violence and fueled his intellectual curiosity for peacebuilding. Kiran wanted to understand people of all religions, ideologies, and backgrounds, so he began listening to stories. He instinctively discovered communication as a pathway to peace. Kiran says, "listening, really, honestly listening, leads to understanding, understanding leads to connection, and connection leads to peace."
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Kiran arrived in North Carolina, USA, in 2011, where he completed his Rotary Peace Fellowship. Today, as President of the International Storytelling Center in Tennesse, he provides our world with communicative tools necessary for peace.
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Kiran's story illustrates how Rotary equips Peace Fellows to foster peace globally, because all these young professionals share a deep personal commitment and passion for peacebuilding. Kiran's unique experience with conflict only leads him into a deeper commitment to promote peace and seek to lead non-violent methods of resolving conflicts. Read More
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Sponsor a New Generation of Rotarian Peacebuilders
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You can help RAGFP recruit and develop the next generation of Rotarian peacebuilders. RAGFP members and Rotarians around the world are now involved in our new Sponsor a Rotaract Program to activate youth in a global network of Rotarian peacebuilders.
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Youthful energy and ideas are the lifeblood of Rotary International and world peace. It is essential for all Rotarians to engage, educate and empower youth in peace projects and initiatives, peace education, and community leadership. You can sponsor and welcome them into the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.
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Simply follow the links provided and “Give the Gift of Membership.” We will contact you for specific Rotaract information and provide them will all their RAGFP membership details and peacebuilding resources. You may even wish to Sponsor Rotaracts in specific countries around the world, where your funds will be dedicated to Rotaract recruitment. General Rotaract Sponsorship helps recruit Rotaracts around the world for Rotarian peacebuilding leadership, engagement, education, and empowerment. Help us prepare the next generation of Rotarian peacebuilders!
If you seek more information about the RAGFP Sponsor a Rotaract Program, simply email us at contact@rotariansforpeace.org or call our office at +1-503-505-5720.
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A Call to Action in Hamburg
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The Rotarian Action Group for Peace is looking for RAGFP members who plan to attend the preconvention Peace Symposium and Rotary Convention in Hamburg in June 2019 to participate as our peace ambassadors. You will be given a badge indicating you are a member of RAGFP.
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You may also be asked to volunteer at the RAGFP booth in the Peace Symposium, as well as with other opportunities based on your availability. Write to contact@rotariansforpeace.org and provide your name, contact email address and dates you will be in Hamburg. We will reach out to you to discuss the opportunities for your engagement in the symposium and convention.
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RAGFP Annual General Meeting
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Meet RAGFP members and our Leadership Team at our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 5th, 2019, at 2:00 PM (CEST) in the General Networking Groups Shanghi Meeting Room of the 2019 RI Convention in Hamburg, Germany.
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Activate Peace in Your Club or District
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Support the Rotarian Action Group for Peace to help us engage, educate and empower the next generation of Rotarian peacebuilders. Peacebuilder Clubs are RAGFP's call to action. Peacebuilder clubs gather regularly and focus on peace, discuss peace action, and educate their community about Rotarian principals of peacebuilding. Start a Peacebuilder Club in your local Rotary Club. We provide resources and step-by-step instructions here. Form a RAGP Peacebuilder Club in your Rotary club today!
- Recruit fellow Rotarians in your area to join and donate to Rotarian Action Group for Peace.
- Contact us if you are unsure that your RAGFP membership is up-to-date. Our research indicates that only 50% of all Rotarians who receive our communications are active RAGFP members. Email us at contact@rotariansforpeace.org or call our office at (USA) 503-505-5720.
- Visit our E-Newsletter Archives to learn more about how your Rotary club can inspire peace, where ever you live in our world.
- Share with other Rotarians how your Rotary club is promoting peace. Send us your peacebuilding stories so we may share them with other Rotarians and RAGFP members.
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Join and donate to Rotarian Action Group for Peace to help us engage, empower and educate Rotarian peacebuilders around the world. Thank you!
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